Today we thought we’d introduce you to our lovely sponsor, Carla Thomas of Carla Thomas Photography. Carla is based in London, and her style of photography is a mixture of reportage and creative portraiture.We caught up with Carla last month and asked her a few questions about herself and her passion for photography:

What is it about photographing weddings that you enjoy and find interesting?

As a wedding photographer, I have the unique pleasure of being one of the few people who will be with the couple from the beginning of the day to the end. As such it is impossible not to get caught up in the emotions of the day and to feel humbled and being part of such a big day in this couple’s life.

I always find it interesting to see the little touches and details couples use to make their day unique to them that not only show their personalities but highlights what’s important to them.

What or who got you started in wedding photography?

At school I was torn between IT and Photography and was persuaded that IT would be better so went to uni, studied IT and am still working in the industry.

After working for a few years I decided to pick up my camera again and enrolled in a photography course which I thoroughly enjoyed and a little matter of heart surgery wasn’t going to stop me getting out there and taking photos!

The summer after my surgery, just under ten years ago, I shot my first wedding. I was working for a family friend who was also a photographer and a videographer, and very soon I was shooting for him every week. I loved it. I loved laughing along with their family and friends as they listened to the speeches. I cried a few times too. It made me wish I didn’t just know this amazing couple for such a short time. I wish I could have seen some of these wonderful moments that made them the couple they became. I have yet to photograph a first dance where I’m not singing along!

I then started photographing a few friends weddings and other events, but as much as I loved weddings, I was also scared about leaving my job and making the switch. There wasn’t as nearly as much support and information out there as there is now. Last year, with a lot of support of my boyfriend, I made the decision to pursue my dreams and I am now working to move into photography full time. Working two full time jobs is hard work, but I am enjoying it, and wouldn’t change it for the world.

How would you describe your style?

I like taking photos that capture the emotion of the day or a moment, so prefer to take rather candid, natural images for large portions of the day. When doing couple portraits, as it is usually the first time in the day they have had a chance to speak to each other and be alone, I tend to let them enjoy the moment and take some creative portraits with the minimum of direction so not to lose the moment.

Where would be your ideal photographic dream wedding destination be?

Oh now that’s a hard one. I love to travel, so it would be very easy to say anywhere at least 1000 miles away from London! I would really love to shoot an outdoor wedding. Ayres Rock or the Grand Canyon spring to mind as they are places I would love to visit and love the mystery that surrounds them both. As much as I would love to travel for a wedding, St. Paul’s is up there as one of the places I would really love to shoot a wedding in too. It is one of my favourite buildings in the world.

What advice would you give to brides when choosing their wedding photographer?

Funny you should ask this question as I am currently writing a short guide on this. One important piece of advice I can give is to find a photographer you like. Make sure you connect with them. I like to connect with my couples and find out about them and hear their dreams and plans for their big day.

You and your family will spend most of your wedding day with your photographer. Are they someone you can relax with? Do you like them? If not, it will show in your final images and also cloud your perception of your photos. You want someone who has you and your guests so relaxed that they forget they are there as this is when your photographer will capture the real emotions of your day.